Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Over 50 lives have been lost in 2025 due to canoe accidents on the Enyim/Oyongo River, the only means of crossing between the Benue and Ebonyi border communities.
The casualties, which are on both the Benue and Ebonyi sides is as a result of lack of a bridge over the river forcing the people to resort to canoes to cross.
But Ebonyi State Government on Wednesday flagged-off the bridge construction in a bid to end the constant loss of lives on the river.
The people of the area stated this during the flag off of the Enyim Bridge, linking Enyim in Izzi Local Government Area, Ebonyi, to Igede in Oju, Benue State by Governor Francis Nwifuru.
Cyprian Nwekee, a traditional ruler from neighbouring Iziogo, recounted the river’s toll, including the death of a successful farmer from his community who drowned when a canoe capsized while transporting crops.
“Many people lost their lives trying to transport their agricultural produce to markets,” Nwekee said, noting that canoes were used to access markets like Iboko Agwo in Benue and others in Cross River.
He praised Nwifuru for initiating the 5-span bridge, expected to be completed in nine months, which will enhance trade and connectivity.
Ogba Isaac, Supervisor for Works in Oju, Benue State, confirmed that over 50 deaths have been recorded this year, with some of the bodies unrecovered.
“During the rainy season, our people used to die a lot trying to cross the bridge inside a canoe,” he said.
Isaac highlighted the bridge’s potential to boost economic and agricultural activities, shorten travel times (e.g. Abakaliki to Oju in 38 miles), and connect to Lagos and Abuja efficiently, ending the “incessant mishap” on the river.
The bridge, being cconstructed by the Nigerian Army, is seen as a critical infrastructure project linking the “Salt of the Nation” (Ebonyi) with the “Food Basket of the Nation” (Benue), fostering inter-state ties and reducing reliance on hazardous canoe crossings.
Brigadier General Saidu Selki Bello, the Director of Project Sappers Engineering Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of the Nigerian Army and the project coordinator said the project will be completed in nine months.
He noted that the bridge will help to improve security in the area and help to curb insurgency and other criminal activities.
He said: “So far, we’ve not had any challenges. We’ve been mobilizing to the site. As you can see, it’s a big project. It takes a lot of equipment to mobilize from Abuja, a lot of cost, but we’re almost there. Hopefully, we should start doing the job by next week. So far, we have mobilized up to almost 80%.
“The duration of the project is between eight and nine months. And this is a five span bridge project. The gap is about 100 meters, so that implies five spans.
“The security concern is that if the bridge is made across and the road is being constructed, it will enable the troops to quickly move in to protect the situation.
“But you can imagine, you are coming over now and you are seeing the advancing on the right side, there’s nothing you can do. You cannot see, the gap is much.
“So that will deter, if the road, if the bridge is prepared, it will deter insurgents or any other criminal activities across the two states,” he said.
Flaaging-off the project, Governor Nwifuru noted that it will command immeasurable socio-economic benefits for Ebonyi and Benue States.
“It will ease the transportation of food and offer better routes to Abuja and other Northern States of the Federation.
“Indeed, Enyim Agbaja is set to become a gateway to trade, commerce, and an overall economic boost for Ebonyi State,” he said.
Nwifuru appreciated the Governor of neighbouring Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, for pledging to construct the link road from Oju Local Government to Vandeikya, his own Local Government Area.
“On a personal note, I feel accomplished starting this project today. The Sudan Mission Hospital in Enyim Agbaja saved my life in 1996 after a ghastly motor accident.
“With the School of Health, Motherless Babies Home and School for the Deaf located here, this bridge surely will offer a huge rise in the quality of education and operations for these institutions.”
The governor appreciated the Nigerian Army for their solid show of capacity in taking up the project.
“It requires a lot of technical processes because of the river. We are grateful to them, even for the concessions they made to help Ebonyi State in this project. The road leading up to the bridge will be awarded too to the same contractor.
He called on the people of Enyim Agbaja, beginning with the traditional ruler, to offer the workers nothing short of their unalloyed support to get the job done.
